INTRODUCTION
Siyamnapu’tsiyam na taon na ang nakararaan simula ng inihayag ni Heneral Emilio Aguinaldo sa Kawit, Cavite ang lubos na paglaya ng bansang Pilipinas sa mga kamay ng mga dayuhan.

Ang paghahayag ng ating kasarinlan ay muling nagbigay patunay na ang mga Pilipino, kapag nagsama-sama sa pagkamit ng isang mithiin, ay nagtatagumpay — isang katotohanan at katangiang likas na diwang pilipino.

Kaya naman ang araw na ito — na maituturing kong simula ng isang malawakang paghahanda sa darating na Sentenaryo ng ating kalayaan sa susunod na taon — ay ating ialay sa paggunita at pagbuhay sa diwang Pilipino na siyang dahilan ng kalayaang ating tinatamasa ngayon.

Ito ang isa sa mga mahahalagang dahilan kung bakit idineklara ng inyong pangulo ang taong ito bilang “Taon ng Diwang Pilipino” o “Year of the Filipino Spirit”.

Noong nakaraang taon ay ginunita natin ang “Taon ng mga Bayani” at ang sentenaryo ng kamatayan ni Gat Jose Rizal. Ngayong taon naman ay ang sentenaryo ng kamatayan ng itinuturing nating Ama ng Rebolusyon — si Gat Andres Bonifacio.

Kaya naman ang paggunita natin ngayon sa dakilang araw ng kalayaan ay napakahalaga sapagkat ito ay ating isinasagawa sa gitna ng ating pagpupugay sa lahing Pilipino.

This commemoration carries greater significance than those of earlier years. Over the next 365 days, we shall focus our attention on preparing for the celebration of our First Centennial.

Our choice of the theme for this year’s commemoration is most fitting: Diwang Pilipino: Isaisip, Isapuso, Isagawa. For truly this is the time when we Filipinos — in thought, in heart, and in action — must relive the national spirit that made us free.
A TIME OF HOPE AND OPTIMISM
Let us draw encouragement that — as we embark on this yearlong undertaking — our nation is secure, stable, and competitive.

For five long years, we have given our best to the challenges before us. Over this time, our hearts and minds, our hopes and energies have been collectively directed toward the singular objective of raising our nation from the pits of crisis and stagnation to the threshold of sustained progress.

We have not been denied.

Our country is at peace — not only with other nations — but within our own community, which once was fragmented by rebellion and insurgency.

Our democracy is stable, with our constitution fully reigning over our national life and our democratic institutions fully functioning.

Our social reforms to guarantee the delivery of our people’s basic needs are being implemented.

And our economy is growing, achieving a level of productivity unprecedented in our history.

In all our recent labors and struggles, one thing above all has stood out — and that is the fact that working together and with democracy as our standard, we Filipinos can move our nation forward.

We will not be where we are today but for the faith and spirit that, since June 12, 1898, has fortified us in trials and crises that sometimes seemed overwhelming.
THE FILIPINO SPIRIT
That faith and spirit first found its voice in Dr. Jose P. Rizal, who gave his life on these grounds for believing that Filipinos could be a nation in their own right.

That faith and spirit was forged on the anvil of revolution by Andres Bonifacio, whose centennial we mark this year.

And that faith and spirit proclaimed itself to the world in Kawit, Cavite, 99 years ago, when President Emilio Aguinaldo raised the flag of our Republic.

Around these great events and personages at the turn of the 19th century, the story of our people — before and since — has always turned.

Our Independence Proclamation in 1898 crowned our people’s unceasing struggle — since the time of Lapu-Lapu and Soliman — to be free and sovereign in our own land.

And it laid for all Filipino generations since the challenge of building, recovering, defending and strengthening the Filipino nation.

In the web of history, all our struggles, aspirations and achievements as a people come together. And they lay claim to our memories as we mark our first centennial as a republic and approach a new century of challenge.
THE FIRST CENTENNIAL
Let us therefore gather our energies together to ensure the successful commemoration of our First Centennial.

It demands the collective participation of all our people — every group, every sector, every community, every creed, every family and every citizen who constitute our nation.

Ito ay isang hamon sa ating lahat, isang hamon para sa mga Pilipino, hindi lamang dito sa ating bansa kundi sa lahat ng sulok ng mundo. Tayo ay magkaisa.

Isaisip natin, isapuso at isagawa ang pagdiriwang ng ating kasarinlan.

Our centennial is not just a celebration of Filipinos in the Philippines, but a celebration of all our countrymen and countrywomen around the world.

Our centennial is also not just for Filipinos alone to celebrate. Other peoples and other nations join us in this commemoration — not least those countries whose imprint is part of the making of our history.

Fellow countrymen and countrywomen:

Let us commit ourselves to ensuring the success of our centennial celebration. Share with us your time, your energies, and your resources. Tell us how our preparations can be made better if they are wanting. Let every community and every home reflect this time of glory and pride for our people and our country.
MAKING HISTORY
We have the opportunity in this centenary year not only to relive — but to make — history.

We can show the world that freedom and democracy have been effectively enshrined in our land.

Above all, we can show what we are fully capable of building in our country and what we can contribute to a peaceful and bountiful world.

Our country’s story is like a journey. We have traveled far to get to where we are today, but we still have much farther to go to achieve the full modernization of our country. From our successes over the past 99 years, let us draw added vigor for the labors ahead. And, from our disappointments, let us summon the will to do better.

If our history has taught us one undying lesson, it is I believe the fact that we Filipinos must always act on our hopes, not on our fears.

This was true in 1898, when we dared to bring to birth the first free republic in Asia.

This was so at EDSA in 1986, when we expelled a seemingly immovable tyranny from our land.

And this is so today, when our country stands on the edge of a new century of challenge and opportunity.

As we attain our initial goals, we must set new ones. We must raise our sights to the nation we want to be — and will become. This is the goal of the new development strategy that the Ramos administration has initiated — which is to enable our country to pole-vault into the twenty-first century.

I am certain that all of us, each in his own way, will want to contribute to this great undertaking of building a Philippines closer to our dreams — befitting a nation marking its first centennial.

We in government will consecrate our all to fulfill this responsibility. You, my beloved countrymen and countrywomen, must also do your part.

Sa pagpasok ng sandaang taon ng ating kasarinlan, pag-ibayuhin natin ang ating pagkakaisa at pagtutulungan upang sa gayon ay matiyak natin ang tagumpay ng ating mga pangarap.

Ating ipagbunyi ang Diwang Pilipino sa isip, sa puso at sa gawa.

Mabuhay ang Diwang Pilipino!

Mabuhay ang Republika ng Pilipinas!

Maraming salamat at mabuhay tayong lahat!